Spring Break
Student has star power
Scott Feinberg's '08 Oscar forecasting blog gains acclaim.
by Daniel D. Snyder
Associate Editor
Arts | 4/1/08
Posted online at 11:48 PM EST on 3/31/08
/ Last updated at 9:14 PM EST on 3/31/08
On a shelf next to Scott Feinberg's '08 desk sits a very, very heavy blue binder. Inside lies interview upon interview with a colorful spectrum of Hollywood personalities. They range from Oscar-winning dreadnaughts like George Clooney to an original Lollipop Guild munchkin from The Wizard of Oz. Its pages are a bible of sorts, the holy word of Hollywood's apostles.
Contrary to your suspicions, Feinberg does not moonlight as a Hollywood mogul. Rather, his impressive list of star connections is the result of his work on his own blog, www.andthewinneris.blog.com, a site dedicated to coverage of the Oscars year-round. Not just another rumor-spreading pet project, "And The Winner Is…" has been referenced in the New York and Los Angeles Times, New York Magazine and the New Republic, among others. Vanity Fair even called it "an awards authority;" quite an honor for someone who hasn't even received his bachelor's degree.
Feinberg's interest in the Oscars and film in general was nurtured at an early age when his father, in traditional parental fashion, forced him to watch 1955 Best Picture winner Marty. Though Feinberg says he did not particularly enjoy the movie, it was an early influence. "It definitely piqued my interest," says Feinberg.
His interest growing, Feinberg began tracking down classic after classic. "If you see Citizen Kane, The Godfather, Casablanca and Gone With The Wind over a long weekend, there's no way not to get hooked," he says. Soon his viewing habits moved away from the escapist and drew toward the analytical: "You start to see, recognize and appreciate the people who are making these movies. You start to recognize the actors. You start to wonder what happened to them. I wanted to learn about the people who make them possible." Thus the seeds of "And The Winner Is…" were planted.
Starting small with his project, Feinberg tracked down smaller, more obscure and accessible personalities, people he recalls as "character actors or just people who would actually list their numbers in their phone books." However these would prove to be useful connections. One good interview merits another, and soon they were passing Feinberg up the ladder, persuaded by his enthusiasm for spreading the history of film to a younger generation. Slowly, he began making more connections, reaching more modern stars. Today, his Facebook profile features photos of him with stars ranging from Paris Hilton to the cast of Superbad, to the last living silent film actress.
Contrary to your suspicions, Feinberg does not moonlight as a Hollywood mogul. Rather, his impressive list of star connections is the result of his work on his own blog, www.andthewinneris.blog.com, a site dedicated to coverage of the Oscars year-round. Not just another rumor-spreading pet project, "And The Winner Is…" has been referenced in the New York and Los Angeles Times, New York Magazine and the New Republic, among others. Vanity Fair even called it "an awards authority;" quite an honor for someone who hasn't even received his bachelor's degree.
Feinberg's interest in the Oscars and film in general was nurtured at an early age when his father, in traditional parental fashion, forced him to watch 1955 Best Picture winner Marty. Though Feinberg says he did not particularly enjoy the movie, it was an early influence. "It definitely piqued my interest," says Feinberg.
His interest growing, Feinberg began tracking down classic after classic. "If you see Citizen Kane, The Godfather, Casablanca and Gone With The Wind over a long weekend, there's no way not to get hooked," he says. Soon his viewing habits moved away from the escapist and drew toward the analytical: "You start to see, recognize and appreciate the people who are making these movies. You start to recognize the actors. You start to wonder what happened to them. I wanted to learn about the people who make them possible." Thus the seeds of "And The Winner Is…" were planted.
Starting small with his project, Feinberg tracked down smaller, more obscure and accessible personalities, people he recalls as "character actors or just people who would actually list their numbers in their phone books." However these would prove to be useful connections. One good interview merits another, and soon they were passing Feinberg up the ladder, persuaded by his enthusiasm for spreading the history of film to a younger generation. Slowly, he began making more connections, reaching more modern stars. Today, his Facebook profile features photos of him with stars ranging from Paris Hilton to the cast of Superbad, to the last living silent film actress.
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Cousin Steve
posted 4/02/08 @ 9:33 AM EST
Most impressive. We know you will a sucess at whatever avenue you persue. We wish you the best of everything as you take on new challenges.
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